April 12--The Bulls improved to 41-40 with their road victory over the Pelicans. Here are three observations.
It's Jimmy Butler's world, and the Bulls are living in it
Seriously, it's hard to question an All-Star who chooses to play a meaningless game -- and whether Butler should've is another question -- and then even checks back in with just under 6 minutes to go and makes virtually every big play down the stretch.
Butler puts in the work. And his heart is in the right place. But his postgame comments, while mostly delivered light-heartedly, continued the feeling of his season-long takeover, ready or not.
To wit, asked if anybody tried to talk him out of playing, Butler came up with this beauty.
"Nobody can make me do anything. I'm a grown man, first and foremost," he said. "I wanted to play. That's that. (Fred Hoiberg) came and talked to me and he knew how to talk to me. He said, 'Hey, you may have to run point guard.' Oh, it's a wrap. I'm playing now. He knew what to say to make me really, really want to suit up. But I was going to play anyways."
Butler scored nine straight points in less than 2 minutes down the stretch, including the go-ahead 3-pointer. He finished with 23 points and 11 assists. And he said he's playing Wednesday against the 76ers.
Cristiano Felicio and Justin Holiday continue to impress
Of course, the fact these two players are seeing playing time underscores the unwanted position in which the Bulls find themselves.
But both players play with energy and zest. Felicio posted his second straight 16-point game and consistently flattens the defense by running downcourt with pace and purpose. Holiday scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
"He can really shoot," Butler said of Holiday. "He's confident."
The defense needs an overhaul
Granted, the game, with both teams out of playoff contention, carried an almost pick-up feel akin to the last day of school to it.
But the Bulls allowed 116 points and 51.3 percent shooting to an injury-riddled team that fielded a playing unit of mostly unrecognizable names.
The Bulls need to fix their defensive woes moving into next season.
